The sun set on Nairobi last Friday, March 7, but as the city turned to night, shadows of grief and anger emerged. The lifeless body of Ladi Anzaki Olubumni, a 27-year-old Nigerian content moderator for TikTok, was discovered in her Lower Kabete apartment after she failed to show up for work three days in a row. This tragic incident has caused a storm of protests and scrutiny, detailing grave concerns about the welfare of tech workers in what is often dubbed Africa’s Silicon Savannah.
Ladi had moved to Kenya in 2022 to pursue a job with Teleperformance, a French outsourcing giant working with TikTok. Her ambition and drive had paved a way for her to join a burgeoning tech scene, yet beneath the surface of innovation and opportunity lurked an unsettling reality. For all the vibrant narratives about technology empowering African professionals, Ladi’s story exposes a troubling story riddled with exploitation, neglect, and systemic failures that can no longer be ignored.
Throughout her tenure at Teleperformance, Ladi longed to return to Nigeria. The pit of homesickness grew deeper as day after day passed without any indication of leave being granted. Colleagues voiced their frustrations, stating that not only was Ladi entitled to a yearly return ticket, but her repeated requests for leave had been flatly denied. Ladi’s colleagues reported a toxic corporate culture and a lack of support from management, an environment where the desperate pleas of a young woman went unheard.
One anonymous source from Teleperformance revealed that many content moderators, including Ladi, operated without work permits, a factor that complicated their ability to return home. “She went to the managers crying, but they were videoing her and laughing at her,” the source lamented. This disheartening account raises serious ethical questions about the treatment of outsourced workers, especially those navigating the murky waters of international employment.
When Ladi missed work, her absence went unaddressed for days. A system that touts innovation and connectivity seemingly failed to extend that same concern to its human resources. It wasn’t until her worried colleagues decided to physically check on her that the grim reality of her situation was revealed. This lack of a welfare check paints a disheartening picture of an organization more focused on productivity than on the well-being of its employees. The outpouring of grief following her death has sparked urgent demands for accountability echoing through the country.
Ladi’s death has sparked urgent discussions about the psychological toll of content moderation, a line of work known to take a heavy emotional and mental toll on those involved. Content moderators often face exposure to graphic and disturbing content, leading to high rates of PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Studies have shown that prolonged exposure to such content can have severe psychological impacts. Mophat Okinyi, a Kenyan content moderator with firsthand experience of the mental strains tied to moderation work, is standing in solidarity with his deceased colleague. “We’re doing a vigil in Nairobi for the deceased,” he said.
As tech giants capitalize on Africa's talent pool, it becomes essential to confront the darker impacts of such rapid expansion. This incident joins a growing list of concerns about the treatment of tech workers in Africa, highlighting the need for greater oversight and worker protections. The pressures of content moderation have long been whispered about but rarely brought to the forefront of a discussion tangled in industry hype. Ladi’s tragedy is a rallying point that reminds us that behind the algorithms and coded phrases are real people, experiencing real struggles.
This incident calls to mind other tragedies within the tech realms of Africa, including the untimely death of Keith Makori, a fintech entrepreneur whose life ended under intensely questionable circumstances shortly after securing a significant funding round. Such events demand a critical examination of the working conditions within the tech sector. Many have asked; how can a sector that thrives in an environment of innovation lag behind in establishing ethical labor practices?
This moment serves as a pivotal juncture for Kenyan authorities and corporate leaders alike. Ladi Anzaki Olubumni’s untimely death represents a huge loss for her family and friends thus calls to arms for all those advocating for humane treatment in the tech industry. As Nairobi lights candles in her memory, it serves as a touching reminder that the fight against exploitation will be far from easy. The need for improved labor regulations, increased transparency in outsourcing contracts, and better mental health support for content moderators is now more evident than ever. It is also important to consider the formation of a workers union. To support content moderators, one can advocate for better working conditions, support mental health initiatives, and demand transparency from tech companies.
